Aston Villa are facing a significant January transfer decision regarding winger Leon Bailey, with Serie A side AS Roma reportedly keen to terminate his season-long loan deal early.
Roma's decision and Bailey's struggles
According to reports from Mail Sport, Roma 'want to cancel' the loan agreement for the 28-year-old Jamaica international this winter. This move would definitively end any possibility of the €22 million (£19 million) option to buy being triggered.
Bailey's time in Italy has been disappointing. Since joining Roma last summer in a bid to revive his career after a difficult 2024/25 season at Villa Park, he has managed just seven Serie A appearances. Crucially, he has failed to score or provide a single assist. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is not planning to increase his involvement, making an early return to Birmingham the most likely outcome.
Unai Emery's tactical conundrum
This development presents Villa boss Unai Emery with a complex puzzle. Despite the club's impressive form—11 consecutive competitive wins for the first time since 1914—the squad has shown a perceived weakness in wide attacking areas.
New signing Evann Guessand has not yet justified his £30 million fee, while loanee Jadon Sancho's performances have been inconsistent. Captain John McGinn has frequently been deployed out of position on the right wing to fill the gap.
Bailey could, in theory, provide useful depth as Villa compete on multiple fronts: the Europa League, the FA Cup, and the Premier League. However, his lack of match fitness and sharpness after minimal game time means he would not be an instant solution.
The financial factor and Bailey's Villa future
The other side of the coin is financial. Emery has recently spoken about the club's limited spending power in the upcoming transfer window. "We can sign players, only we can’t spend a lot. But we can do something, of course," the manager admitted.
This raises the possibility that Villa might be better served by selling Bailey to generate funds for reinforcements. His record last season was underwhelming, with just one goal in 24 Premier League games and a single strike in the Champions League.
The core issue with Bailey has always been consistency. On his day, he can be a superb and decisive attacker, but those days have been too infrequent. The club must now weigh the potential cost of reintegrating him against the benefit of cashing in on an asset whose value may diminish further without regular football.
Emery and the Villa hierarchy now have a critical few weeks to decide whether to give the £19m winger another chance at Villa Park or to cut their losses in the January market.
